§13472 High Efficiency Heat Engines

Summary

The Secretary must run a five-year program to make heat engines much more efficient. The program must show real technical and economic success through field demonstrations. It must use materials that boost efficiency and work on advanced engine designs for electric and industrial power at small, mid, and large scales, including gas turbines with mechanical heat recovery, intercooled turbines with steam or heat recovery, turbines that use reformed fuels or hydrogen, and very efficient simple-cycle gas turbines. The goal is engines that can reach over 50 percent efficiency in the mid-term. Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary must prepare and send Congress a five-year plan to guide the work and must consult with industry, colleges and universities, federal agencies (including the EPA and national labs), and professional societies. Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary must ask for proposals to carry out the program. Funding may be provided as needed from funds already authorized by law.